"Lying on my bed—the same bed my husband and I slept in each night—I shut my eyes against the intrusin of everyday objects surrounding me: the silver-framed family photographs on the dresser, Paul's stained silk tie coiled on the chair waiting to be sent to the cleaners, and the still-unread morning newspapers."~ Lip Service by M. J. Rose

August 23, 2012

The Writer magazine will go on hiatus after the October 2012 issue. I'll miss my monthly subscription. I hope it returns sooner rather than later. :-(

FremantleMedia and Random House joined together to create Random House Television. The focus is on developing television content from Random House books with the help of Random House's editors, publishers, authors and agents.

Self-published authors need editors. That is all.

Fifty Shades of Grey soundtrack is available on Spotify. There are 15 classical tracks on the album.

Amazon announced that The Hunger Games Trilogy is the bestselling series of all time. Go Suzanne Collins!

Alicia Silverstone is rolling with the book publishing homies. She inked a deal for two more books: The Kind Mama and The Kind Diet Cookbook.

Goodreads reached 10 million users! If you are not a member of this great literary social media site, please join. Add me as a friend.

Barnes & Noble dropped the price of NOOK devices.

New words were added to this year's edition of Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary. A few of the new words are: aha moment, f-bomb, bucket list and sexting. Check out more here.

August 22, 2012

Every now and then, I read a magazine article that really strikes my fancy. Think Like a Mogul is an article in the August issue of Ebony magazine. It is about Steve Harvey's eight simple principles for success. Comedian/media mogul/author/morning radio show host/game show host are just a few of his career titles. In the article, Steve Harvey shares practical tips for anyone who wishes to be successful. A few of the principles are:

Principle #1: Be the Best

Principle #2: Have an Unbeatable Work Ethic

Principle #5: Build on Your Brand

Principle #8: Give Back

I recommend this article for entrepreneurs, students, businessmen and businesswomen. You will learn from these principles and hopefully be motivated to take action in having a successful career.

Everyone knows I'm completely obsessed with the UK. "US vs. UK" was created by Jenny fromWondrous Reads and
it compares covers from books released in the two countries. Quite a few comparisons today since I haven't done this meme in months of Sundays.

US on top; UK on bottom

The first comparison is The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins. The US covers are on the top. The UK covers are on the bottom. The US covers are simple with a solid color in the background and one large image of the mockingjay. The UK covers are more busy with the capital letters "HG" and an image in the center. This is a classic case of simple is better. I favor the good 'ole US covers.

Total: US 15, UK 12

US

UK

The next comparison is The Next Best Thing by Jennifer Weiner. The covers are similar and have the same theme of a woman in a pool. Because they are so alike, it is difficult to choose just one. I declare a tie!

Total: US 16, UK 13

US

UK

The third comparison is Bared to You: A Crossfire Novel by Sylvia Day. Both covers feature a dark gray background with a solo image. Simple, eye catching and sexy. The US cover displays a pair of earrings. The UK cover shows a pair of heels. Both state the same blurb: He possessed me and obsessed me. I am like any other chick and love shoes, especially heels. So it's no question about which cover I favor more: the UK version.

August 21, 2012

The Angry Woman Suite is narrated by three characters: Elyse Bowden Grayson (born 1950), Francis Grayson (born 1928), and Aidan Madsen (born 1880).

I usually don't like novels with too many characters and multiple points of view. Often times, simple is better. There are over twenty characters listed in the beginning of this book for the reader's reference. Early on, I was thrown off because Elyse was born in 1950, yet the first chapter is Elyse in 1955 talking about her first love. Wait. What? First love at 5 years old? But I kept reading and discovered The Angry Woman Suite is not a confusing multi-layered read like it first seemed.

It is a coming-of-age story centered on mysterious paintings, the search for the artist, a feuding family, and murders. The characters are gamers, full of shit, resentful, complex and heroic. The characters are like humans we encounter every day. Lee Fullbright writes about the characters in such detail that you can't help but to get lost in the families' generational disturbing drama and the mystery.

You can download the eBook version of The Angry Woman Suite for only $0.99. Small price to pay for literary fiction. Be sure to check out Lee Fullbright's guest blog post also.

DISCLAIMER:
This book was received directly from the author for review purposes
only. In no way does it influence my review. The opinions I have
expressed are my own.

August 19, 2012

Series Sunday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie of Precision Reviews. I encourage all of my fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along.

Read an installment of a series.

Share your review/recommendation below.

Include the title, author and series name.

My Series Sunday pick is Bared to You, the first book in the Crossfire trilogy by Sylvia Day. Gideon Cross is hot, addictive and brilliant. He appears to be the perfect man. Eva Tramell is young, flawed and damaged. It's no surprise that Eva wants nothing more than to hang out with Gideon, get to know him and have casual intense sex with no strings. It's also no surprise when Gideon's demons start to show. He is possessive. He has nightmares. He closes himself off, yet let's Eva in. Both of these characters are troubled with unpredictable mood swings. Their relationship is extreme highs and desperate lows. To put it simply, Eva and Gideon are dysfunctional.

This book was recommended by the good people of Barnes & Noble because I read the oh-so-popular Fifty Shades of Grey. Like most other readers, I was ready to read another trilogy along the same lines. "Along" is the key word. I was not expecting what I found in Bared to You.

Let's see. How can I put this? Bared to You equals Fifty Shades copycat. I read each page, learned more about the leading lady and main man, delved further into the familiar storyline, rolled my eyes with every...ahem...similarity. Yet, I was still curious to see just how far the author, Sylvia Day, would rip off the author of Fifty Shades, E.L. James. My curiosity is the very reason I intend to read the next two books in the Crossfire trilogy. Will Sylvia Day switch it up and write unique follow-ups? Or will the books parallel Ana and Christian's life again? Stay tuned for my reviews.

August 16, 2012

Gold Mine Road is a paved route that extends north into the hills. The Mine in Helena, Montana, went out of business a hundred years ago and was abandoned. And Joel Smith is the cocky, adventurous man without a plan. We all know what curiosity did to the cat though, right?

On Memorial Day in 2000, Joel's reckless curiosity leads him into the abandoned mine. He emerges in May 1941, stuck in history and the age of swing dancing. It's a critical time in history—the draft and a nation drifting toward war.

No matter what genre you prefer reading, everyone appreciates a good story. John A. Heldt is an author that weaves a tale, keeping you entertained until the end. I was invested in Joel's adventure, wondering if or when he would choose to return to the present. How he would adapt to his new (yet aged) surroundings. This isn't your ordinary time traveling book. It has its own pace and outcome.

You can download the eBook version of The Mine for only $2.99. Small price to pay for a well told story.

DISCLAIMER: This book was received directly from the author for review purposes only. In no way does it influence my review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

August 15, 2012

Like most recent graduates, Dawn West is trying to find her way in the real world. Her roommate in a New York City apartment views paying rent as optional. Her ex-boyfriend isn't really staying an ex; they can't stop seeing each other. Her writing career is the extent of writing a lawn care advice column, until she lands a freelance job tracking down the past winners of Charm magazine's "Ten Girls to Watch" contest and interviewing hundreds of fascinating role models.

Dawn gets to interview amazing women who were once outstanding college students, now mayors, opera singers, writers and other impressive careers. Their stories are inspiring to both the reader and to leading character, Dawn. She takes their experiences to heart and analyzes her own life, creating her own success story.

Ten Girls to Watch is Charity Shumway's debut novel. I like her writing style and the book's format. Each chapter begins with a photo and profile of a past winner. Dawn is a well-developed character. Readers see her growth and personal progress throughout the novel. There are also tidbits of life advice sprinkled through the narrative. Nicely done. This is one author to watch.

August 14, 2012

Charming. Witty. Snarky. Entertaining. These are just some of the words used to describe author Jen Lancaster. I kept up with Jen's journey since her first memoir. Now in Jeneration X, this is Jen's toughest challenge yet...acting like an adult. Ha! Pretty funny, right?

Just take a moment to read the subtitle: One Reluctant Adult's Attempt to Unarrest Her Arrested Development, or Why It's Never Too Late for Her Dumb Ass to Learn Why Froot Loops Are Not for Dinner. She volunteers, gets life insurance, has a mortgage and more adult-like responsibilities. The stories are well told, but too many were from her blog and therefore already read. I would have liked more new material.

If you're also a Jen Lancaster fan, then you know what to expect out of this latest release: LOL moments. But there was more disappointment than those expected LOL moments. Jen is still my favorite neighbor-in-my-head. I cannot wait to read more of her real-life experiences. I just hope the next memoir is not so "been there, read that twice." If you are new to Jennsylvania, then start with her first memoir, Bitter is the New Black. It is a better introduction to this Chicagoan blogger/author.

August 12, 2012

Series Sunday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie of Precision Reviews. I encourage all of my fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along.

Read an installment of a series.

Share your review/recommendation below.

Include the title, author and series name.

My Series Sunday pick is A Wish and a Prayer, the 4th book in the Blessings series by Beverly Jenkins. This is my fourth visit to Henry Adams, Kansas. Henry Adams is the historic town founded by freed slaves that wealthy divorcee Bernadine Brown purchased off of eBay. Oh, how I've missed these characters and this beautiful, growing town.

Preston "Brain" Miles is happy living with the Colonel and Mrs. Payne. But he is still curious to know about his birth family. His biological maternal grandmother has been found and is more than willing to pay him a visit in Henry Adams. But can she be trusted? Or will this turn into a bad situation like when Crystal's birth father kidnapped her last year?

Rocky is still the manager of Dog and Cow, the town's diner. But life has made her skeptical and strong. She can pitch a softball, run a business, break down an engine and fight. The inner softer side of Rocky wants to be loved and wants to trust another man, but it's risky opening her heart again. The town's teacher, Jack, is determined to be the man in Rocky's life and prove that love is worth a chance.

Meanwhile, Bernadine had good intentions by hiring lawyers on behalf of farmers. However, some of the farmers are angry about the lost opportunity to lease their land and sell crops. Will Bernadine's plan to build a grocery store in Henry Adams fix this misunderstanding?

And good 'ole Riley, the former Mayor, is still claiming his pet hog, Cletus, acted in self-defense. Bless his heart for trying to prove it in court. I can do without reading more about this character and his precious hog.

All of the Henry Adams residents need a wish and a prayer in this 4th installment. I've never read a Beverly Jenkins book that I did not like. This latest book in the Blessings series is certainly no exception. While reading, it's like I am the nosy neighbor peeping out of the blinds. The lives of the Henry Adams residents are interesting, realistic and never dull.

August 10, 2012

First Lines Friday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie of Precision Reviews. I encourage all of my fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along.

Grab your current read(s).

Share the first line(s).

Include the title and author.

"The ugliest truth, a friend once told Myron, is still better than the prettiest of lies. Myron thought about that now as he looked down at his father in the hospital bed. He flashed back sixteen years, to the last time he had lied to his father, the lie that caused so much heartbreak and devastation, a lie that started a tragic ripple that, finally, disastrously, would end here."

August 7, 2012

Fans of Emily Giffin's Something Borrowed and Something Blue may want to read this short story titled The Diary of Darcy J. Rhone. It is Darcy's thoughts written in her diary during high school years. Yup, you guessed it. Plenty of references about beauty, boys and her best friend Rachel.

It's just a little something to tide you over until you're ready to begin reading Emily Giffin's new release, Where We Belong.

August 5, 2012

Series Sunday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie of Precision Reviews. I encourage all of my fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along.

Read an installment of a series.

Share your review/recommendation below.

Include the title, author and series name.

My Series Sunday pick is 11th Hour, the 11th book in the Women's Murder Club series by James Patterson. Lead character, Lindsay Boxer, is pregnant. But that doesn't slow her down. Her detective work is just as demanding as ever. However, this time the killer could be one of her closest friends or co-workers. Within the first 35 pages, readers are introduced to a hidden garden with two severed heads, cryptic numbers on index cards and a shooter (possibly a cop) that killed his fourth drug dealer.

11th Hour was better than the last couple WMC books, but still not quite at par when the series first began. If you'd like to keep up with the series, then borrow it from the library.

"The missing girl—there had been unceasing news reports, always flashing to that achingly ordinary school portrait of the vanished teen, you know the one, with the rainbow-swirl background, the girl's hair too straight, her smile too self-conscious, then a quick cut to the worried parents on the front lawn, microphones surrounding them, microphones surrounding them, Mom silently tearful, Dad reading a statement with quivering lip—that girl, that missing girl, had just walked past Edna Skylar."

"The Internet told me the temperature in Brooklyn was ninety-three degrees, but my fourth-floor apartment wrapped those ninety-three degrees in ancient plaster, a sweaty hug that pushed things that much closer to triple digits."